Chapter 4 - THE THING MY MOTHER KNEW
Margaret did know.
Not about the embryo claim.
About Ryan's visit.
She had followed him.
"Why?"
"Because he took a folder from your desk."
"What folder?"
"The fertility records."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"You were presenting in New York."
I stared at her.
"That is your reason?"
"No."
"Then give me the real one."
Margaret rubbed her swollen knuckles.
"I wanted to know what he was doing before I scared you."
There it was again.
Protection through silence.
I hated it in Ryan.
I hated it in Vivian.
It did not become noble because my mother did it.
"You don't get to decide what truth I can handle."
"I know."
"Do you?"
Her eyes filled.
"Now I do."
She had followed Ryan to the clinic.
Two days later, she confronted him.
That was when the worst fight happened.
Ryan grabbed her wrist.
Vivian grabbed the other.
Margaret pulled free, lost her balance, and struck the cabinet.
The cheek bruise.
Ryan had not punched her.
He had still hurt her.
Then Margaret admitted something else.
She had slapped Ryan afterward.
Hard.
"I wanted him to hit me back," she whispered.
"Why?"
"So you'd finally leave him."
I stared at my mother.
That was not bravery.
That was manipulation.
Dangerous, desperate manipulation.
"Mom, you had my children in the house."
"I know."
"You tried to provoke a violent confrontation with them there."
"I know."
I walked away before I said something I could not take back.
At the front window, I saw Ryan's car pull into the driveway across the street.
He got out holding a white envelope.
Vivian moved toward the door.
I stopped her.
Ryan crossed the road but remained outside the gate.
He held the envelope against the bars.
"I have the clinic report."
I looked at him through the camera.
"What does it say?"
His face looked gray.
"One of the twins is not genetically related to you."
Behind me, Margaret made a sound like the air had left her body.
Ryan continued.
May you like
"And that's not the worst part."
